A palapa is a thatched-roof, open-sided structure (see palapa photo). The material to cover the roof of a palapa typically consists of dried and woven palm-tree leaves. A palapa is sometimes referred to as a grass or tiki hut.

The most common place to see a palapa is in the tropics, where a palapa provides shade and refuge from the hot sun.

Palapas are constructed in a variety of sizes. Some resorts set up a bar or serve meals under a larger palapa; others devote the shaded area beneath the palapa to massage services.